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The Elder Scrolls IV: Shivering Isles Hints

Ritual of Accession

  • 1 of 7: After you get one of the torch chambers lit, talk to the corresponding priest to get your reward item.
  • 2 of 7: Then find Sheogorath on a nearby bench and talk to him.
  • 3 of 7: He'll refer you back to the two priests, so talk to both of them about the Ritual of Accession to learn of your two major options.
  • 4 of 7: Then talk to Sheo about "Decision" and choose which side you want to take over: Mania or Dementia.
  • 5 of 7: As Sheo warns, there's no going back once a decision is made, so you might want to make a regular save at this point and never overwrite it. That way, you can restore it later on and play the other side, too.
  • 6 of 7: The impact of your decision on future main quests is minimal (just surface details), so the best way to decide is based on the enchantments on the ring you get as a reward for taking over one of the two houses.
  • 7 of 7: If you choose to replace Syl, your reward ring will have leveled Chameleon, Fortify Endurance, and Resist Poison enchantments. If you instead replace Thadon, the ring will have leveled Shield, Fortify Personality, and Resist Disease enchantments. Decide from that which way you want to go. (Or decide from the fact that if you ever want to have a suit of genuine golden saint armor to wear, you'll have to replace Syl.)